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New friendships, fun and personal growth
were the weekend themes for the more
than 145 campers who attended House Ear
Institute’s 23rd Family Camp program on
May 30 – June 1, 2008. Held at the
scenic Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, CA,
it is a weekend retreat for families
with children affected by a hearing
loss.
“When a child has a hearing loss, the
impact is felt by all members of the
family unit,” said Marilee Potthoff,
director of marketing, House Ear
Institute. “That is why each year we
offer diverse camp activities that
benefit both hearing and non-hearing
children and their parents. We want
everyone to walk away having gained
something from their experiences over
the weekend.”
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This year, teen campers were introduced
to rock climbing and a high-wire ropes
challenge to build self-confidence and a
sense of accomplishment. A leadership
program for the teens introduced public
speaking and encouraged them to share
their experiences with others. A hiking
challenge rewarded them with
breathtaking views of the Pacific.
Younger children took part in a variety
of sports and arts and crafts programs.
They also participated in acting
classes, a hiking safety course, a
percussion workshop, wild animal
presentations and even a martial arts
class. Parents engaged in a series of
workshops to help their children deal
with feelings of isolation and
alienation, learn self-advocacy and
navigate the IEP process. A highlight
for the families was dancing the night
away to the high energy entertainment of
Latch Key Kid, a popular Southern
California band.
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